Parking Provisions – Consider a nearby site

The new car parking provisions (Clause 52.06 of the Victorian Planning Provisions) have included consideration of a nearby site for the provision of car parking, as follows:

“In addition to the above (see Clause 52.06), when proposing to provide the car parking spaces on another site, consideration should be given to the following, as appropriate:

– The proximity of the car parking on the alternate site to the subject site.

– The likelihood of the long term provision and availability of the car parking spaces.

– Whether the location of the car parking spaces is consistent with any relevant local policy or incorporated plan.”

Other than the above, there is no clear indication within Clause 52.06 what will be considered acceptable to Council. Therefore always check local requirements. A qualified consultant (i.e. Town Planner, Traffic Engineer etc.) could be engaged early on in the process to assist with working through the parking provisions as required. Notwithstanding the above, the following may be useful when first considering use of a nearby site:

– The nearby site should be suited for car parking (i.e. large warehouse style structure or large sealed surface areas where bays can be individually marked).

– Nearby sites may not be suitable for residential developments; however, this does depend on circumstance/location.

– If the parking is for short term users (i.e. visitors, customers), then the nearby site would be preferably located adjacent (i.e. next door).

– If the parking is for long term users (i.e. staff), then preferably the nearby site should be located within around 200 metres walking distance from the proposed site (a little bit further may be argued depending on circumstance/location).

– In activity centre locations, a walking distance of around 400 metres may be argued for long-term parking provisions (i.e. particularly where parking is located on the outskirts of the Activity Centre and the proposed use is further with the centre).

– Also in Activity Centres, check if Council have a Parking Overlay (see Clause 45.09 or the schedule to Clause 52.06 if not yet translated) or any other relevant policy as a cash-in-lieu scheme (i.e. purchase of parking in a nearby purpose built structure on a space-by-space basis etc.) may be available.

– Ideally the nearby site should be vacant (i.e. no other use should operate).

– The nearby site must be available for the period the proposed use seeks to operate (i.e. a formal agreement would need to be put in place and would from part of the Planning Permit, otherwise the proposed use would not be able to operate).

– The other site require may also require an amendment to the Planning Permit in particular if the another use operates on the land (i.e. if the other site is say a Church, and surveys show the car park is empty during operating hours of the proposed use, then the Church may need to also amend their Planning Permit if they propose to continue to operate etc.).

– Traffic generation/access driveways/sightlines/gaps in traffic should be considered at the other site, particularly if it increases over that of the previous use and is located on a major road.

– Any other relevant consideration.

If you have any questions regarding the above, please feel free to contact Andrew Zivanovic from Zav Traffic by telephone on 9853 6624 or by email on andrew@zavtraffic.com.au.